Kazakhstan, Astana, June 7 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Russia during 20 years of cooperation reached a peak of $24 billion, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said during talks in expanded format as part of the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Astana on Thursday.
Kazakh President said that cross-border cooperation is particularly actively developing today, as it is trade between border regions that gives 50 percent of the total turnover.
Nazarbayev said the growth of trade turnover by 40 per cent is associated with the beginning of work of the Customs Union.
Kazakhstan and Russia are the engines in such important projects as the Customs Union, common economic space and the Eurasian Economic Union, Nazarbayev said.
He also reminded that 3,500 Kazakh-Russian joint ventures operate in Kazakhstan.
Opening the meeting, Nazarbayev congratulated Vladimir Putin on assuming office.
"Your visit in a new status and a visit of Dmitry Medvedev also in a new status a week ago indicate the highest level of our relations. Your visit takes place before the Day of Russia, and this year we also mark the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Russia," the President of Kazakhstan said.